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Judge denies request to lower $70 million rape award

A Broward County judge denied a yacht owner’s request to reduce the $70.56 million award granted to a former yacht crew after she was raped onboard the 150-foot Feadship M/Y Endless Summer in February 2015.

According to court documents, the crew member “appeared credible to the jury,” and the court found no reason to dispute the jury’s findings. The judge’s order states “the amount of compensation on each element of damage was not excessive” and it included an award less than what was requested for one one of the items, future medical expenses.

The ruling states that “while this was a large verdict”, the court “concluded that the amount awarded is not indicative of prejudice, passion or corruption on the part of the jury.”

Attorneys for the yacht owner, Island Girl Ltd., appealed the Jan. 29 jury award and were denied a new trial in early May.